SAN ANTONIO —
These are the facts:
- There have been at least 35,390 cases of coronavirus in Texas and 973 reported deaths from COVID-19 as of 1 p.m. on May 7, according to Texas HHS.
- City leaders say there are 1,805 confirmed positive cases in San Antonio as of 6:13 p.m. on May 7. A total of 54 people have died related to the coronavirus.
- Governor Abbott's order for a "phased in" reopening of the Texas economy got underway Friday, May 1, and further phases are expected. You can find more information about that here.
- Per city orders, most San Antonians need to wear a mask or cloth covering in public areas where social distancing is difficult or not possible. Click here for more information.
Thursday, May 7
8 p.m.
Coronavirus by the numbers: Of the more than 1,800 Bexar County residents who've tested positive for coronavirus, 48% have recovered. The county has reported 54 deaths from the virus.
6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 44 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on May 7, bringing the total to 1,805. Meanwhile, 1 new death from COVID-19 complications was reported, bringing the local death toll to 54. In all, 867 county residents have recovered from the virus.
5:08 p.m.
Four new cases of coronavirus were reported in Hays County Thursday, bringing the total COVID-19 cases in the county to 199. A total of 122 people have recovered in the county.
2:00 p.m.
The San Antonio Fire Department provided the following information regarding coronavirus cases within the department.
- May 7, 2020
- SAFD Uniformed COVID-19 positive -6
- SAFD Uniformed in quarantine - 7
- SAFD Civilians in quarantine-0
- Total SAFD Personnel Quarantined- 7
1:40 p.m.
Good news - more than 18,000 Texans have recovered from coronavirus, according to Texas Health and Human Services Thursday.
12:30 p.m.
Sheriff Javier Salazar provided an update Thursday on crime statistics throughout Bexar County during the pandemic. In a Zoom meeting, the sheriff said while overall reported crime is down, that doesn't necessarily tell the whole story. He said domestic violence may be going unreported right now during social distancing and while children are out of school. He said these things take away the usual opportunities for abuse victims to make an outcry.
11:28 a.m.
FDA approves coronavirus vaccine candidate to begin phase 2 trial. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine candidate is one of many under development, but it was the first to begin phase one testing in March.
11:20 a.m.
H-E-B said Thursday it is providing free check cashing for stimulus checks in its stores. The company also said it will waive select fees for the H-E-B Prepaid Mastercard.
10:30 a.m.
Comal County reported four new cases of coronavirus on Thursday. The county released the following information regarding cases:
As of Thursday morning, the Comal County Office of Public Health has received reports of the following test information:
- 917 tests conducted
- 65 positive tests
- 761 negative tests
- 91 results still pending
Of the 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Comal County, the location breakdown is:
- 25 from New Braunfels or the immediate area
- 11 from the Bulverde area
- 9 from north of Canyon Lake
- 6 from eastern Comal County
- 3 from south of Canyon Lake
- 3 from Garden Ridge
- 3 from the Spring Branch area
- 2 from Fair Oaks Ranch
- 2 from southwest Comal County
- 1 from central Comal County
9:30 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department has the following information on coronavirus cases:
May 7th, 2020
Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive -6
Officers in quarantine - 2
Civilians in quarantine- 6
Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined- 8
9:00 a.m.
Nearly 3.2 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the business shutdowns caused by the viral outbreak deepened the worst U.S. economic catastrophe in decades.
Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is the equivalent of one in five Americans who had been employed back in February, when the unemployment rate had reached a 50-year low of just 3.5%.
6:45 a.m.
A set of detailed documents created by the nation's top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places such as mass transit, day care centers and restaurants during the still-raging pandemic has been shelved by the Trump administration.
5 a.m.
There are more than 1.2 million confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in the U.S., as of 5 a.m. Thursday, May 7, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 70,000 deaths and nearly 190,000 people recovered.
Wednesday, May 6
7:36 p.m.
By the numbers: Bexar County now has 1,761 total coronavirus cases; 47% of the county residents who've contracted the virus have since recovered.
6:15 p.m.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported that an additional 84 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Bexar County on May 6, bringing the total to 1,761. Meanwhile, one new death from COVID-19 complications was reported, bringing the local death toll to 53. In all, 834 county residents have recovered from the virus
5:22 p.m.
Three more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Guadalupe County, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 90 as of Wednesday evening.
5:10 p.m.
There are 12 new cases of coronavirus in Hays County, officials announced Wednesday evening. The county now has 77 active cases, while 117 residents have recovered from the virus.
4:58 p.m.
Two walk-up COVID-19 test sites will open from May 7 through May 9 at the Las Palmas Library parking lot and Woodlawn Lake Park, the city announced Wednesday. The two locations will not require an appointment.
Additionally, more mobile coronavirus test collection locations are now available to San Antonio residents at no cost.
4:05 p.m.
Gold's Gym has announced that it will be reopening its San Antonio gym locations on Monday, May 18 at 5 a.m.
3:49 p.m.
Traders Village will be opening this weekend after the state confirmed the business should be allowed to operate under Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order reopening malls.
The outdoor market said they have plans in place to maintain social distancing and occupancy restrictions.
2:45 p.m.
Texas State Parks will begin allowing overnight camping on a limited basis starting May 18. Overnight camping will only be allowed for people with existing reservations. No new reservations can be made as of now, Texas State Parks's website says.
1:24 p.m.
Officials with the San Antonio Fire Department have provided an update on the number of coronavirus-related cases within the agency:
- SAFD Uniformed COVID-19 positive -6
- SAFD Uniformed in quarantine - 7
- SAFD Civilians in quarantine-0
- Total SAFD Personnel Quarantined- 7
Service delivery to the citizens of the City of San Antonio has not been impacted.
10:56 a.m.
Officials with the Kerr County Sheriff's Office have confirmed that one of the agency's deputies has tested positive for coronavirus. This marks the 6th confirmed coronavirus case.
9:58 a.m.
Officials in Comal County have confirmed two more cases of coronavirus for a total of 61.
9:45 a.m.
The Witte Museum says it will reopen Saturday, May 30 after being closed due to the coronavirus. The museum has a reopening task force to ensure that the experience is safe for visitors.
8:12 a.m.
The San Antonio Police Department has reported its latest coronavirus numbers within the department:
- Sworn Officer COVID-19 positive: 6
- Officers in quarantine: 2
- Civilians in quarantine: 5
- Total SAPD Personnel Quarantined: 7
6:45 a.m.
Tyson Foods will begin limited operation Thursday of its huge pork processing plant in Waterloo, more than two weeks after closing the facility because of a coronavirus outbreak among workers, the company announced Tuesday.
6:00 a.m.
There have been 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 6:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 70,000 deaths and nearly 190,000 people recovered.
5:45 a.m.
Making himself Exhibit A, President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory Tuesday, using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see the country reopen even as the coronavirus remains a dire threat. At the same time, the White House said it hopes to wind down its virus task force in the coming month as Trump's focus shifts.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- The CDC recommends wearing a mask or cloth face covering if you have to be out due to an essential service or essential activity such as going to the grocery store.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.